EW: To give parents a break knowing that their kids are safe and ok is a gift that no monetary value would cover

AMH2020 student 

            “We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.” - Ellen DeGeneres. Throughout the semester I did multiple service projects besides the main one of veterans village. One of them was being the official note taker for the 11:15 class period however to me that wasn’t a service project I mean yes I was helping people but it did't take any extra effort. I simply had someone copy the notes and bam I was done. So to me it wasn't enough to see the direct effect it could have on someone so I decided to find another thing to do to make a difference and man did I land the jackpot of all service projects?

 I found a group on FSU campus called hang tough. This is a group for families in the Tallahassee area who have a child with a life altered illness or disability. Families can use this as a support group to connect with other parents going through similar situations they can also use it as a fun activity for their kids and as a date night for the parents. I was a volunteer at two events for this foundation during the fall semester the first one was a Halloween event where the kids got to go “trick or treating” and play fun spooky themed games while the parents got to meet with a social working and have small in order to relate and talk about their daily lives. 

The other event I am doing is called Santa days this is their biggest event of the year and how the whole program started. They rent out a church for Santa to go to and sterilize the whole interior minimizing germs ensuring that kids with a repressed immune system from treatment can have the experience of sitting on Santa’s lap. Kids are given an appointment time to cut the waiting in line factor out of the whole thing. Wanting to be an elementary school shows my passion for kids I love kids with all of my being and to be able to help kids who’s lives are effected by illness or life-altering conditions truly brightens my day. Working with children is something that I value and that I have since I was a young kid myself. These kids are stronger and face more challenges then I could ever imagine. To be able to take their minds off the aches and pains even if it just for 5 minutes is something that I cherish and can only imagine how much joy it brings the kids to feel as though they are “normal”.  To feel like you are accepted for who you are and not have to be worried about what others may think of you or if the area you are in is safe for you is something that these kids don’t get very often, which us sad because I know for fact when I was little I took that as a privilege. To give a safe haven for these kids means the world to them and me but I feel like it means more to their parents. While this program was founded on having fun social activities for kids it has grown into so much more. At every event a social worker is brought in to talk to the parents and allow them to have the open dialog needed when you are going through a hard time. These parents have regular full time jobs but to care for a child with special needs is a job all on its own. 

To give parents a break knowing that their kids are safe and ok is a gift that no monetary value would cover. More then anything to see your child be filled with joy and happiness in their eyes is something these parents live for. At more core it is made up of love this project let that shine through more then any other project could possibly allow it to. To give these kids love, hope and happiness shook me to my core and the time spent with these kids is something I will always remember. Hearing the stories of the kids affected by the illness or by the siblings who are they through it all being supportive and taking the back seat some days are stories I will cherish forever. While I plan to work with children in a school setting it most defiantly made me curious into exploring the possibility of working in a hospital setting. This project made me realize that I really do love working with kids and that I am looking forward to helping children for the rest of my life. 

SK: I hope all the soldiers and veterans know that there are people out there who want to give back to them and make them comfortable and happy.

AMH2020 student

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”- Maya Angelou. 

The people of United States Military are those we should take our hats off to and get on one knee for. All those men from the navy, marines, and army keep us safe and let us live the lives we always wanted without any complaints. We should do the same in helping those deployed or retired live safe, tummy full lives because that is our job as citizens. We cannot back out on the men that have risked everything for us because they deserve so much more than what they are given. Americans need to step up by sending more boxes and donating more money to the troops, they should not have to carry out the struggle of what they went through in war in real life, they deserve a break. Maya Angelou’s quote makes me think after I help out veterans or send boxes to Afghanistan that I feel like the good man behind the window, that one does not know. I feel like I am that man who gives what he can and is appreciated even though has no clue what he looks like and how good his really intentions are.  In doing my service project I thought how my nice deed of buying good and shipping them to men deployed made me a better person and impacted someone’s life greatly and community.

            I chose the job in mailing a box to Afghanistan and it was definitely one of the highlights of my year. I admit right now I am not a person who gives back to the community at all, I would much rather donate money than physically doing the action. I would rather give money because when I do physical work and see the poverty and conditions people are living in leaves me very emotional and depressed and I would much rather not feel those emotions. By mailing a box to Afganistan I was able to see a different part of myself that I never before encountered. The first task in creating the box was going to Publix to buy the goods required for the box and I literally went ham. I felt as if the best way possible to support is by buying everything on the list, so I did. I thought of Cuban grandma at that moment because all she wants is for me to do is “comer comer comer hasta que yo me explota,” she taught me to always be giving in everything I do and never take the cheap way out of things. In picking each good I felt happy that I was giving back to those soldiers who have nothing in the ugly, hot, desert that is Afghanistan. It was time to go to the post office and when I got down with all the things I bought I realized I bought so much more than what would fit in a flat rate box. I thought mailing something would be a piece of cake but it ended up being “una locura.” I have never mailed anything in my life and it took me forever to figure out everything. Every time I would go to the counter with a sealed box thinking it was done the lady kept telling me something else was wrong, I kept thinking, “Que dificil es esta mierda, soy un tremendo bobo”, It was time to pay and send the box and the lady at the post office was already giving me a rude look, not caring I put the box on top of the counter, so excited that the stuff I bought would soon be in the hands of a soldier. The lady then began to roll her eyes at me and tell me rude comments about packing the box so much but I didn’t care. I then paid and left and felt like a new person because I gave back to the boys out there fighting for us.

            My core value is happiness and mailing a box to Afghanistan related to my happiness. I am the type of person who always gets Christmas gifts for everyone because it makes me happy when I see them light up when they receive something special that I bought them. Also, I love taking pictures to remember those happy funny times that I can relate with my friends and family on whether it be karaoke to Celia Cruz on Christmas or attending Ava’s college party, times I want to remember forever. From going out to buy goods and shipping a box to a solder I believe that I reached their happiness because they got a present full of the things they love. I just wish I could see the look on their faces when they received it. The impact that I made on that soldiers’ life must be a big one because I hope he believes that there are people like myself who thank him for being over there and putting his life in danger so I can live a happy life. I hope all the soldiers and veterans know that there are people out there who want to give back to them and make them comfortable and happy. I have confidence that the project of sending goods to Afghanistan will touch all of TCC and lead to all of Tallahassee carrying out actions like these to impact our troops.

           

           

CB: While in school I plan on working on my legacy of being known for giving back and creating changes with interest of the people at heart.

AMH2020 student*

For my first   project I have decided to take it upon myself and help a fellow classmate Mr D* with his new home by gifting him gift cards and household necessities. I feel as a student and Veterans daughter that it is my responsibility to help our homeless soldiers and veterans. This project is very personal to me because when deciding my major, I wanted to do something  made a difference in people's lives.

I cannot say that this gift will make a huge impact on his life but hopefully it would decrease the stress of buying new items with his own money. I hope that when he receives his gifts from me that it lets him know that he is not alone and that he is loved and thought of. I pride myself off being able to bring smiles to someone’s face. Although I cannot make everyone happy, I have learned over the years that most of the time it is the little things that make a difference. 

While in school I plan on working on my legacy of being known for giving back and creating changes with interest of the people at heart. I am glad that I can start my legacy with Mr. D*